Video: Ems Transfer of AIDAnova

The world’s first cruise ship to be powered by LNG, AIDAnova, has been transferred to Eemshaven, Netherlands. The conveyance of the 180,000 tonne ship along the small river Ems was quite an endeavor.

After a slight delay, the ship embarked on its first voyage on Tuesday, October 8, in the evening hours heading toward Leer, followed by the Ems barrier at Gandersum, and finally reaching Eemshaven on Wednesday morning.

The transfer itself was a record, as AIDAnova, is the largest cruise ship that the Meyer Werft shipyard has so far transferred on the Ems.

Now the ship is set to undergo final outfitting and the first fueling with LNG in Eemshaven.

The ship is scheduled for delivery to Aida Cruises in November, in Bremerhaven. In December, the ship will visit the Hanseatic City on the Elbe, after which it will head for Gran Canaria where it will start its maiden cruises.

Featuring a length of 337 meters and a width of 42 meters, AIDAnova is able to accommodate 6,600 passengers.

The video above shows the giant ship squeezing down the river in riverse, before being turned around at the entrance to the Emden port.